The veterans of the Fourteenth Army who fought in Burma between 1942 and 1945 called themselves 'the forgotten army'. But that appellation could equally well be applied to the whole of the British army after 1945. Histories of Britain's post-war defence policy have usually focused on how and why Britain acquired a nuclear deterrent. David French takes a new look at these policies by placing the army centre-stage. Drawing on archival sources that have hardly been used by historians, he shows how British governments tried to create an army that would enable them to maintain their position as a major world power at a time when their economy struggled to foot the bill. The result was a growing mismatch between the military resources that the government thought it could afford on the one hand, and a long list of overseas commitments, in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East, that it was reluctant to surrender. The result was that the British created a Potemkin army, a force that had an outwardly impressive facade, but that in reality had only very limited war-fighting capabilities.
Army, Empire, and Cold War will interest not only historians of the British army, but also those who are trying to understand Britain's role in the Cold War, and how and why the British came to surrender formal rule over their empire.

May 6, 1986: Nick Popaditch arrives at the Receiving Barracks, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.returncharacterreturncharacterApril 9, 2003: An AP photographer captures a striking image seen around the world of the Gunny Sergeant smoking a victory cigar in his tank, the haunting statue of Saddam Hussein hovering in the background. Popaditch is immortalized forever as "The Cigar Marine."returncharacterreturncharacterApril 6, 2004: The tanker fights heroically in the battle for Fallujah and suffers grievous head wounds that leave him legally blind and partially deaf. The USMC awards him with a Silver Star for his valor and combat innovation.returncharacterreturncharacterApril 18, 2004: "Gunny Pop" comes home to face the toughest fight of his life-a battle to remain the man and Marine he was. This is the central drama of Nick's inspiring memoir, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery.returncharacterreturncharacterReaders in and out of the military will stand up and cheer for this valiant Marine's Marine, a man who embodies everything noble and proud in the Corps' long tradition. Never has modern mechanized combat seemed so immediate and real, or the fight in Iraq seemed so human and worth believing in.returncharacterreturncharacterAt first, Nick fights to get back to where he was in Iraq-in the cupola of an M1A1 main battle tank, leading Marines in combat at the point of the spear. As the seriousness and permanence of his disabilities become more evident, Nick fights to remain in the Corps in any capacity, to help the brothers in arms he so aches to rejoin. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for rightful recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, Nick fights to maintain his honor and loyalty, waging all these battles the same way-the Marine way-because anything less would be a betrayal of all he holds dear.returncharacterreturncharacterThe real triumph in Once a Marine is its previously untold, behind-the-scenes tale of the day-to-day life of a career Marine noncommissioned staff officer. In most books and movies, a "Gunny" is little more than a cardboard character. Nick's portrayal is a man complete: a husband and father, as well as a warrior and a molder of young warriors. He reveals himself completely, something no memoirist in his position has ever done before. This includes our very personal introduction to his wife April, whose heroics in the story equal Nick's, together with dozens of others who, as Sgt. Popaditch writes, gave so much, so selflessly and freely, to him. Like the man himself, Once a Marine is full of gratitude and refreshingly free of false bravado and braggadocio.returncharacterreturncharacterAll Americans, of all political persuasions, have a duty to meet this courageous and admirable fighting man, an exemplar of all our military men and women who give so much out of love for their nation. Meeting Gunny Sergeant Popaditch through the pages of his inspirational memoir offers up new reasons to be proud and shoulder our own responsibilities as Americans.returncharacterreturncharacterOnce a Marine will instantly take its place among outstanding combat classics. And once you read this remarkable and uplifting book, The Marine's Hymn will never sound the same.returncharacterreturncharacterFINALIST: The Indie Book Awards, Autobiography / Memoirs 2009returncharacterreturncharacterreturncharacterreturncharacter returncharacterreturncharacter REVIEWS returncharacterreturncharacter" Nick Popaditch's transcendent memoir of military service and its personal consequences should be read by every one of our nation's political leaders-to help them understand the incomparable quality of those who fight on the front lines. Read this inspiring story, recommend it to friends-and send a copy to your member of Congress!"returncharacterreturncharacter- Ralph Peters (Lt. Col., ret.), New York Post columnist and author of Looking For Trouble and Wars Of Blood and Faithreturncharacterreturncharacter"Retired Gunny Sergeant Nick Popaditch's narrative will burn through your heart, and then settle deep in your gut. . . . Readers will shed a tear, and simultaneously burst out with eagle, globe and anchor emotive-pride. That, I guarantee!"returncharacterreturncharacter--Leatherneck Magazine (USMC)returncharacterreturncharacter"America has always been blessed by wonderful, patriotic, and often anonymous men and women who have sacrificed so much in defense of liberty and freedom. Once a Marine, Gunny Sergeant Nick Popaditch's heart-wrenching and inspiring memoir, puts a name and a face on this sacrifice. Every American should read this book to remind them of what these brave warriors of freedom endure on our behalf."- Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.returncharacterreturncharacter"Gunny Popaditch's story is as inspiring as it is dramatic. This wounded warrior suffered grievous injuries - an RPG to the head! - but refused to give up on life, even when his wounds forced him out of the Corps. Once a Marine is a 'must read' story of one of today's real heroes."- Jerry D. Morelock, PhD, Colonel, U. S. Army (Ret.), Editor in Chief, Armchair General returncharacterreturncharacter"Author Gunny Sergeant Nick Popaditch, a Silver Star recipient and the subject of the world-famous AP photo, has penned what must surely be classed as among the best personal memoirs of any combat soldier in recent memory. Once a Marine is an in-your-face blast of raw emotion and realism that will strike a raw nerve and keep you up at night. This autobiography of combat, courage, and recovery should be required reading for every American, young and old, who yearns to grasp the true cost of freedom." returncharacterreturncharacter- Caspar Weinberger Jr., Military and Current Affairs Columnistreturncharacterreturncharacter"A riveting and inspirational story of the consummate professional warrior. It is impossible to read Once a Marine without being proud of our military and grateful that our Nation produces men like Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch."- Michael F. Nugent, Major, US Army (Ret.), co-author of One Continuous Fight: The Retreat From Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863returncharacterreturncharacterreturncharacterreturncharacter"Only a few books leap off the shelves and demand to be read- and "Once a Marine" is one of those few...a spellbinding story...the type of book that the reader will devour in an evening."The Midwest Book Review, 12/2008 returncharacterreturncharacterreturncharacterreturncharacter"Gunny Popaditch's story makes me incredibly proud to have worn the same uniform. Without intending to, Once a Marine articulates life in the modern Marine Corps more clearly than anything I've read. No blindly loyal fanatic, Popaditch candidly acknowledges the bullshit, yet artfully captures the inimitable spirit of camaraderie and commitment that makes the Marine Corps unique. Extraordinarily motivating and compellingly honest book, it made me pine for my own long-finished Marine Corps career."- Jay A. Stout, Lt.Col. USMC (Ret.), author of Hornet's Over Kuwaitreturncharacterreturncharacter"Gunny Pop" Popaditch's courageous memoir of his life in and out of the Marine Corps is intelligently written and imbued with a brazen honesty rarely found elsewhere. His personal courage-and that of his wife, April-gives the term "home of the brave" an entirely new meaning."- Sgt. Michael Volkin, author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Surviving Boot Campreturncharacterreturncharacter

Those of us who are Americans grew up watching World War II movies showing how the Americans always beat the Germans. Amazing that we always win considering the fact that our side nearly lost the war. Since there is a shortage of true stories about the war, we get to watch the purely fictional accounts such as "The Dirty Dozen" and "The Guns of Navarone" or the accounts that at least might be somewhat true such as "Stalag 17", "Darbys Rangers", and so many others I could not begin to list them all. A few even have a factual basis, such as "The Longest Day".
I have often wondered how the Germans feel watching these Hollywood movies where they always lose.
In this book, Felix Steiner provides one of the very few books that tells the German side of the war. The title, "The Army of the Outlaws", is based on the fact that he commanded an army made up of Non-German volunteers, consisting mostly of Dutch, Walloons, and Scandinavians including the Danish regiment Frikorps Danmark. In other words, the men he commanded were, from the point of view of history as we now know it, fighting against their own countries.
Had the side they were on won the war, they would have been regarded as heroes, but since they lost they would be forgotten were it not for this book.
Felix Steiner has great praise for the one million men fighting under him, saying repeatedly that they were superior in every way to the Russians and others they were fighting against.
As to the reason they lost, we all know the real reason. They were outnumbered ten to one.
This book has not been translated into English although it should be. Since it will probably never be translated, I am reprinting it in German.
We Americans never even heard of Felix Steiner, mainly because he never fought against us, until a few months ago when youtube.com suddenly got filled up with videos about Felix Steiner. We find out that in the very concluding days of the war, during the last days of the Battle for Berlin, when German soldiers, knowing that the war was lost, were surrendering en mass, Adolf Hitler ordered Steiner to attack in what would have been a suicide mission. Steiner was unable to attack and thus saved the lives of his troops.
Felix Steiner was a German Reichswehr and Waffen-SS officer who served in both World War I and World War II. On 1 December 1940, SS-Brigadeführer Felix Steiner was appointed to command the new Wiking Division of the Waffen-SS. This unit was mainly manned by non-German volunteers, primarily from Holland, Denmark and Sweden, motivated by a desire to fight the Bolsheviks. Steiner proved to be a skilful divisional commander and was popular with his men. Steiner commanded this division during the first two years of the fighting in the Soviet Union and was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross on 23 December 1942.
Until recently, the name of Felix Steiner has been largely unknown among English language speakers, mainly because he never faced an English speaking army. Most of his World War II years were spent fighting the Russians and, earlier, the French.
However, the name of Felix Steiner has suddenly become well-known to millions of youtube.com viewers on the Internet because of videos taken from the movie "DOWNFALL: Hitler and the End of the Third Reich" which have now been added with English language sub-titles. The original title of the movie was Der Untergang.
The section most watched on Youtube is based in the last meeting Der Führer had with his top commanders on April 22, 1945. When his top generals, including Krebs and Jodl, first inform Hitler that Berlin is surrounded by Russian troops, Hitler brushes them off, saying that Steiner is about to attack and will clear the area of Russians.

The first in this all new series 'Conflict 100: A Century of Warfare Remembered through Military Modelling', exclusively published by GG Books and Helion & Company, showcases modern South African Armour. Through a series of step-by-step builds by leading modellers, which are accompanied by detailed walk-arounds, a selection of vehicles and weapon systems are explored by serving South African Army Officer William Marshall, for military modellers and students of military history alike. During the South African Border War of 1966-1989, the South African Defence Force circumvented an international arms embargo to build a robust capability which reflected the nature of the conflict in hand; counter-insurgency operations against SWAPO in northern southwest Africa (Namibia) and offensive war fighting into Angola. The South African Defence Force found itself commissioning a range of mine protected platforms which were designed to counter the prevalent use of landmines and IEDs.
Vehicles such as the Casspir and Buffel were purposefully designed to protect infantrymen from the threat of reinforced mines - many of which were fabricated from unexploded ordnance or from multiple anti-tank mines initiated by a trigger anti personnel mine. With its sturdy V-shaped hull, the Casspir was well able to survive mine blasts as was the Buffel which afforded protection whilst allowing a high degree of mobility. Here, modeller Steve Crump assembles the BaxMod 1/35th Casspir as a Koevoet vehicle - the elite South West African Police counter-insurgency team whereas BaxMod founder Chris Baxter builds his own 1/35th Buffel kit. Both the Casspir and Buffel have become icons of the Border War, these builds show just why...The Ratel series of Infantry Fighting Vehicle was also designed to protect its crew from landmines and IEDs, whilst also giving commanders a highly mobile and kinetic offensive capability. Equipped with a 20mm gun, the Ratel 20 is able to deliver an astonishing rate of fire. The Ratel 90 has proved itself an exceptional 'bunker buster' in operations against SWAPO in southern Angola and in a number of instances, readily saw off T-55 tanks.
Tamiya's Marcus Nicholls here takes us through his stunning Ratel 20 build, whereas Australian modeller, Stuart Ransley, does the same for his Ratel 90. South Africa's main battle tank during the Border Was a derivative of the British Centurion. Equipped with a powerful diesel engine and up-gunned with a 105mm system, the Olifant was well suited for operating in the bush. Deployed during the 1987/8 battle of Cuito Cuanavale, the Olifants of 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion proved themselves a formidable adversary for Angolan and Cuban forces. Steve Crump's Olifant build is based on the AFV Club Centurion kit and depicts an Olifant during the Cuito battle. German modeller Ralf Stein takes us through his Olifant build too - an amazing work that truly captures the shape and features of a battle-worn Olifant. BaxMod's latest 1/35th resin release is the G6 Self Propelled Gun. Modeller David Rowe gives this huge kit the full treatment to render a build of this weapon system which is stunning to behold.
Now operationally deployed with the post-apartheid South African National Defence Force, the G6 is an incredible example of South African military engineering and a triumph of production for Armscor - the Armaments Corporation of South Africa. South Africa's 44 Para Brigade was one of the SADF's elite fighting units. Showcasing its airborne offensive capability, it saw action during the 1978 Cassinga battle where a force of ParaBats led by the legendary Colonel Jan Breytenbach, assaulted and destroyed a large insurgent headquarters. The Pathfinder Company of 44 Para Brigade interestingly comprised a significant number of British and American 'contract soldiers'. These individuals adapted and improvised the issue Unimog carriers to be light patrol vehicles. Heavily armed with a combination of 7.62mm FN MAGS and .50 Cal Browning guns, these patrol vehicles were striking to say the least. Ralf Stein's build takes us through the assembly of one of these 'Mad Max' machines. Different it is! Modelling Modern South African Armour is a unique and compelling work.
The origin and history of each weapon system is covered in detail; step-by-step builds in full colour give important 'how-to' tips; walk-around feature images that have never been seen before; colour profiles illustrate camouflage markings and the volume cites extensive references, a bibliography and more. 'Conflict 100: A Century of Warfare Remembered through Military Modelling' is a new series concept, allowing military modellers to focus on a specific area or genre that is of interest to them. From Modern South African Armour to Cold War British Jet Fighters; the Rhodesian Conflict through to French Foreign Legion Operations in Mali; S-Boat Operations in the Aegean to modern Bundeswehr armour...all these and more will be given the Conflict 100 treatment - quality builds by leading modellers; historical contexts from acknowledged sources, colour profiles of vehicles and weapon systems; detailed walk-arounds which take you to the heart of the subject. With individual builds and profiles available to buy as downloadable PDFs, this series will grow and grow.

The new 'Spearhead' series is designed to look at the cutting edge of war, dealing with units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. Each volume in the series examines the chosen unit's origins and history, its organization and order of battle, its battle history theater by theatrer, its insignia and its markings. Also covered are biographies of the most important commanders of each unit. Each title ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness - as seen by the unit itself, by its opponents and the light of more recent historical research. The books also include a detailed reference section with a critical bibliography, a listing of relevant museums and web sites, information about reenactment groups and memorials. The British 7th Armoured Division will be remembered best by its small red shoulder flash that depicted Jaculus Orientalis-the Greater Egyptian Jerboa. Hardy, highly mobile and most at home in the desert, the human Desert Rats proved masters of desert fighting- as have their modern day descendants, the 7th Armoured Brigade, now operating in Iraq. As part of O'Connor's Western Desert Force, the Desert Rats helped to destroy the Italian forces that had started the war in the Western Desert-the Italian Tenth Army being completely defeated at Beda Fomm 5-7 February 1941; then they fought toe-to-toe with Rommel's feared Deutsches Afrika Korps in a seesaw campaign that ended in May 1943 with the surrender of Axis forces in North Africa. Next they were involved in one of the major amphibious landings of the war in Europe as part of the US Fifth Army at Salerno, fighting on northwards through Italy, until withdrawn back to UK, to take part in the Second Front as a vital component of the spearhead of British forces in Normandy, landing at Arromanches on 7 June 1944. They had to learn new skills in the close French bocage countryside, so different to the limitless space of the desert. And they did so the hard way with heavy losses at Villers-Bocage. From then on the division was hardly ever out of action: advancing across Europe from Lisieux in France through Belgium where it relieved Ghent and, finally, on to northern Germany where it took the surrender of Hamburg. These tough troops were then honored by being chosen to go to Berlin to take part in the great Victory Parade of 1945. For all those interested in military history, the new 'Spearhead' series is an excellent account of each of the individual units. Written by acknowledged experts in the subject, each volume is a detailed account of the development and operational record of some of the most famous military units in history.

Camembert--delectably fragrant, creamy-centered, neatly boxed--is the most popular and most famous French cheese. Originally made by hand in the Norman countryside, it is now mass-produced internationally, yet Camembert remains a national symbol for France, emblematic of its cultural identity. In this witty and entertaining book, Pierre Boisard investigates the history of Camembert and its legend. He considers the transformation of France's cheese-making industry and along the way gives a highly selective, yet richly detailed history of France--from the Revolution to the European Union. Camembert: A National Myth weaves together culinary and social history in a fascinating tale about the changing nature of food with implications for every modern consumer. As the legend goes, by coincidence, grand design, or clever marketing, the birth of Camembert corresponds almost exactly in time with the birth of the French republic. In this book, republicans and Bonapartists, revolutionaries and priests are reconciled over the contents of a little round box, originating a great myth and a great nation.
The story of the cheese's growing fame features Napoleon, Louis Pasteur, the soldiers of the First World War, and many others. Beneath this intriguing story, however, runs a grittier tale about the history of food production. We learn, for example, how Camembert became white--a topic that becomes a metaphor for the sanitation of the countryside--and how Americans discovered the secrets of its production. As he describes the transformation of the Camembert industry and the changing quality of the cheese itself, Boisard reveals what we stand to lose from industrialization, the hallmark of the past century. Today, small producers of raw-milk, ladle-molded Camembert are fighting to keep their tradition alive. Boisard brings us to a new appreciation of the sensual appeal of a lovely cheese and whets the appetite for a taste of the authentic product.

On Armor tells three important and interconnected stories. The first is a tale of a technology, in particular, the rise and fall of the main battle tank-a type of armored vehicle that came to dominate land warfare in the middle of the 20th century but is now obsolete. The second is a history of ideas. The problem that armored vehicles created for 20th-century armies was as much about concepts of operation as it was about technology. Those who got the philosophy right did well. Those who lacked either the imagination or the intellectual capital to understand the rapidly evolving potential of the armored vehicle failed miserably. The third story is one of organization. Gudmundsson pays particular attention to how armored vehicles were combined with other forces to form an extraordinarily rich variety of units and formations. He also comments on the current and future roles various types of armor will play on the battlefield. The main battle tank is probably the single most important fighting vehicle of the 20th century. At the same time, as Gudmundsson makes clear, it is only one of the many different types of armored vehicle that have played an important role in recent warfare.
Neither the past glory nor the current obsolescence of the main battle tank can be understood without reference to vehicles such as the armored car, assault guns of various kinds, armored engineer vehicles, and armored personnel carriers. This text also explores the role that mobile operations in World War I played in fostering the development of armored warfare; the rapid decline of the French Army from its highpoint as the leading tank army in the world; the role that weapons other than the tank played in the rise of the German armored force; and the relationship between British ideas of armored warfare and the growth of the American armored force in World War I.

As one of the most successful German fighter pilots of World War I Hauptmann Rudolf Berthold was victorious in forty-four aerial combats. He was also shot down or forced to land after six fights and survived crash landings in every case. Early in World War I, when only fighter pilots were awarded the Kingdom of Prussia's (and de facto, Imperial Germany's ) highest bravery decoration, the Pour le Merite, Rudolf Berthold became the tenth recipient of the honour. Of that early cohort of air heroes, only Berthold and one other pilot survived the war. This book tells his remarkable story. Six weeks into the war, Berthold became the first airman in the 2nd Army area to be awarded an Iron Cross in recognition of his bravery and tenacity in combat. The symbolism of the award was appropriate. Described by one of his pilot proteges as, 'an Iron Man - with an absolutely unbendable iron will', he was a dedicated patriot. And, after he became a fighter pilot, he demonstrated a fierce fighting spirit in many encounters with British and French adversaries. All of his aerial combats with other Pour le Merite flyers are detailed in this book.
Indeed, Berthold was so relentless in his approach to aerial combat, when badly wounded, on at least six occasions, he cut short his convalescent leave to return to flying with his comrades. This included a hit to his right arm, which shattered the bone, rendering it useless - undaunted Berthold taught himself to fly using his left. Peter Kilduff has produced a landmark volume based on extensive research into Rudolf Berthold's life and military career to form the most complete account yet about Germany's sixth highest scoring fighter ace of WWI. Illustrated with over eighty photographs and other artworks, many of which have never been published before, Iron Man tells the tale of this ruthless, fearless and, above all, very patriotic fighter whose perseverance and bravery made him one of the most famous airmen of World War I.

This title offers a fascinating insight to the final siege of the First Crusade. The most extraordinary siege in medieval history began with the arrival of a Christian army at Jerusalem on the dawn of 6 June 1099. There were other sieges that lasted longer, involved greater numbers of troops and deployed more siege engines, but nothing else in the entire medieval period compares to the extraordinary journey that the besiegers had made to get to their goal and the heady religious enthusiasm among the troops. This was the culmination of the First Crusade, a military pilgrimage that had seen hundreds of thousands of men, women and children leave their homes in Western Europe, march for three years over thousands of miles and undergo tremendous hardship to reach their longed-for goal: Jerusalem. No other medieval army had made such a journey to reach its goal. And no other army had such a peculiar makeup. There were hundreds of unattached poor women, gathered from the margins of Northern French towns by the charity of the charismatic preacher Peter the Hermit and given a new direction to their lives by the expedition to Jerusalem.
There were farmers who had sold their land and homes, put all their belongings in two-wheeled carts and marched alongside their oxen. Bards came and earned their keep composing songs about the events they were witnessing, from the heroic charges of the nobles to bawdy satires on the lax behaviour of some of the senior clergy. Knights and foot soldiers were at the heart of the fighting forces, naturally. But even here there was a strange fluidity to the army, with the status of a warrior rising or falling depending on his ability to keep his horse alive and his armour in good order. Here is a vivid and engaging account of the events of that siege: the key figures, the turning points, the spiritual beliefs of the participants, the deep political rivalries and the massacre of the inhabitants that left such a deep scar in the horrified imagination that it still evokes passionate feelings nearly a thousand years later.

Along with millions of other Frenchmen, Louis Barthas, a thirty-five-year-old barrelmaker from a small wine-growing town, was conscripted to fight the Germans in the opening days of World War I. Corporal Barthas spent the next four years in near-ceaseless combat, wherever the French army fought its fiercest battles: Artois, Flanders, Champagne, Verdun, the Somme, the Argonne. Barthas' riveting wartime narrative, first published in France in 1978, presents the vivid, immediate experiences of a frontline soldier. This excellent new translation brings Barthas' wartime writings to English-language readers for the first time. His notebooks and letters represent the quintessential memoir of a "poilu", or "hairy one", as the untidy, unshaven French infantryman of the fighting trenches was familiarly known. Upon Barthas' return home in 1919, he painstakingly transcribed his day-to-day writings into nineteen notebooks, preserving not only his own story but also the larger story of the unnumbered soldiers who never returned.
Recounting bloody battles and endless exhaustion, the deaths of comrades, the infuriating incompetence and tyranny of his own officers, Barthas also describes spontaneous acts of camaraderie between French poilus and their German foes in trenches just a few paces apart. An eloquent witness and keen observer, Barthas takes his readers directly into the heart of the Great War.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the American Revolutionary War, but it was the pivotal campaigns and battles of 1781 that decided the final outcome. 1781 was one of those rare years in American history when the future of the nation hung by a thread, and only the fortitude determination, and sacrifice of its leaders and citizenry ensured its survival. By 1781, America had been at war with the world's strongest empire for six years with no end in sight. British troops occupied key coastal cities, from New York to Savannah, and the Royal Navy prowled the waters off the coast. After several harsh winters, and the failure of the government to adequately supply the troops, the American army was fast approaching the breaking point. It was only the arrival of French troops that provided a ray of hope for the American cause. In this book, Robert Tonsetic provides a detailed analysis of the key battles and campaigns of 1781, supported by numerous eyewitness accounts from privates to generals in the American, French, and British armies.
He also describes the diplomatic efforts underway in Europe during 1781, as well as the Continental Congress's actions to resolve the immense financial, supply, and personnel problems involved in maintaining an effective fighting army.

""THE SORCERER'S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers."
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos
In A CRY OF HONOR (Book #4 in the Sorcerer's Ring), Thor has returned from The Hundred as a hardened warrior, and now he must learn what it means to battle for his homeland, to battle for life and death. The McClouds have raided deep into MacGil territory-deeper than ever before in the history of the Ring-and as Thor rides into an ambush, it will fall on his head to fend off the attack and save King's Court.
Godfrey has been poisoned by his brother by a very rare and potent poison, and his fate lies in Gwendolyn's hands, as she does whatever she can to save her brother from death.
Gareth has fallen deeper into a state of paranoia and discontent, hiring his own tribe of savages as a personal fighting force and giving them Silver Hall-ousting The Silver and causing a rift in King's Court that threatens to blow up into a civil war. He also schemes to have the fierce Nevaruns take Gwendolyn away, selling her off in marriage without her consent.
Thor's friendships deepen, as they journey to new places, face unexpected monsters and fight side by side in unimaginable battle. Thor journeys to his hometown and, in an epic confrontation with his father, he learns a great secret of his past, of who he is, who his mother is-and of his destiny. With the most advanced training he's ever received from Argon, he begins to tap powers he didn't know he had, becoming more powerful each day. As his relationship with Gwen deepens, he returns to King's Court in the hopes of proposing to her-but it may already be too late.
Andronicus, armed with an informer, leads his million-man Empire army to once again attempt to breach the Canyon and crush the Ring.
And just as things seem like they can't get any worse at King's Court, the story ends with a shocking twist.
Will Godfrey survive? Will Gareth be ousted? Will King's Court split in two? Will the Empire invade? Will Gwendolyn end up with Thor? And will Thor finally learn the secret of his destiny?
With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A CRY OF HONOR is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders. At 85,000 words, it is the longest of all the books in the series!
"Grabbed my attention from the beginning and did not let go....This story is an amazing adventure that is fast paced and action packed from the very beginning. There is not a dull moment to be found."
--Paranormal Romance Guild {regarding Turned}
"Jam packed with action, romance, adventure, and suspense. Get your hands on this one and fall in love all over again."
--vampirebooksite.com (regarding Turned)
"A great plot, and this especially was the kind of book you will have trouble putting down at night. The ending was a cliffhanger that was so spectacular that you will immediately want to buy the next book, just to see what happens."
--The Dallas Examiner {regarding Loved}
"

""THE SORCERER'S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers."
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos
In A CRY OF HONOR (Book #4 in the Sorcerer's Ring), Thor has returned from The Hundred as a hardened warrior, and now he must learn what it means to battle for his homeland, to battle for life and death. The McClouds have raided deep into MacGil territory-deeper than ever before in the history of the Ring-and as Thor rides into an ambush, it will fall on his head to fend off the attack and save King's Court.
Godfrey has been poisoned by his brother by a very rare and potent poison, and his fate lies in Gwendolyn's hands, as she does whatever she can to save her brother from death.
Gareth has fallen deeper into a state of paranoia and discontent, hiring his own tribe of savages as a personal fighting force and giving them Silver Hall-ousting The Silver and causing a rift in King's Court that threatens to blow up into a civil war. He also schemes to have the fierce Nevaruns take Gwendolyn away, selling her off in marriage without her consent.
Thor's friendships deepen, as they journey to new places, face unexpected monsters and fight side by side in unimaginable battle. Thor journeys to his hometown and, in an epic confrontation with his father, he learns a great secret of his past, of who he is, who his mother is-and of his destiny. With the most advanced training he's ever received from Argon, he begins to tap powers he didn't know he had, becoming more powerful each day. As his relationship with Gwen deepens, he returns to King's Court in the hopes of proposing to her-but it may already be too late.
Andronicus, armed with an informer, leads his million-man Empire army to once again attempt to breach the Canyon and crush the Ring.
And just as things seem like they can't get any worse at King's Court, the story ends with a shocking twist.
Will Godfrey survive? Will Gareth be ousted? Will King's Court split in two? Will the Empire invade? Will Gwendolyn end up with Thor? And will Thor finally learn the secret of his destiny?
With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A CRY OF HONOR is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders. At 85,000 words, it is the longest of all the books in the series!
"Grabbed my attention from the beginning and did not let go....This story is an amazing adventure that is fast paced and action packed from the very beginning. There is not a dull moment to be found."
--Paranormal Romance Guild {regarding Turned}
"Jam packed with action, romance, adventure, and suspense. Get your hands on this one and fall in love all over again."
--vampirebooksite.com (regarding Turned)
"A great plot, and this especially was the kind of book you will have trouble putting down at night. The ending was a cliffhanger that was so spectacular that you will immediately want to buy the next book, just to see what happens."
--The Dallas Examiner {regarding Loved}
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